National Republican., 1887-08-05

The yirrinia Debt Again.


EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,: Thanks
for the spirit of your editorial on our debt
in Yesterdays issue. Private greed, party
necessities, personal ambitions, aud senti
mental gush have thus far surrounded the
debt question. No serious attemp t to settle
1t upon Its merits has ever been entertained
by the ruling class Of the state. 1t has
been mixed up with and tainted by fraud,
selGshness. and party politics ever sluce
the war. You are willing to discuss meas
rrcs without reference to their effect upon
the fortunes Of parties or politicians. That
is the first position and the first step to sue
cessful settlement.
"When all other men have given up and
iumbled poiselessly elsewhither then first Is
thy time ard opportunity come," says
the state Of things now. There is general
admission of incompetency by Virginia
statesmen in this matter, They have fine
manners and faultless rhetoric, but they are
financially incapable. With few eXcep
tions, they have no knowledge of the ways
and means Of payment Of which our own
stephen Colwell Curry and other great
authors treat. So financially they are lot
Of trembling, irresolute boobies. Where a
suffering people are crying out for intrepid
measures OF relief these old grannies have
only bread pills and soothing syrup to offer.
The appeal is now from Philip drunk to
Philip sober. Each party in turn has
whirled the state till 1t reeled and sickened
in the dance of death. Bewildered still, it
is slowly recovering with the conscious.
ness Of late debauch and emptied pockets
comprehend the simple truth that It has
been deceived, robbed. and abandoned by
its own trusted guardians. Some pulse of
returning manhood may stir 1t again to ac-
ton worthy OF the old time virginia. You
are right In suggesting rational aid. / do
not 20 much ol land grants to states; that,
however, is not an essential point.
The important point is that the federal
government recognizes the obligation which
attaches to 1t by reason OF its dismsmber-
NJ, Mt of the old state.
Thtse two states are new corporations,
end therefore free from the obligations OF
The old, unless specifically assumed In direct
form.
1t is Impossible to show that either OF the
yirgnias ever did this. West Virginia iu
!S1e remodt'cd her state constitution AMI
xpunged all allusion to the debt Of the oil
state. Virginia could do 1t Just as WE'LL aud,
in my opinion, should baye done 1t as soon
SO its co.state acted thus. Can II be possi.
ble that such state of things, pernitte /
ny the feceral reconstruction, involves the
general government in no responsibility
Under the lrdr IiOWcr only could these ueS
.tates have been made and compelled t.
ome with Lew col stitutious In their hands
TO ask admission into the Union. They
were as clearly fruits OF military conquest
IS the states carved out of the territory
sc acquired from Mexico.
The old debt of Virginia was recognized
ny the military government aud payment
made from 1866 TO 1870. Suppose there had
| been Lo reaGmiss'on OF the conquered states
| srd they had btenheld by military autnorit,
| IN now, would not the federal authority
| feel bound to secure the payment OF the
| itbt? 1t permitted two new states carvel
from old Virginia TO pass from its hands
| md imposed upon them no specific obliga
lions to pay, as II might have done readily
| fixed proportion Of the debt. 1t seem
| clear that moral obligation exists. Mr.
Evarts admitted TO me, few months since
that'there were equitable reasons why fed
| eral aid should be given to Virginia to pa,
its debt. But will Gny statesman OF hl
rank say that the federal government should
esk for higher authority than equity In 1t
dealings with the states? Equity and Law
| ore one In the courts, where nations ant
| great communities settle their differences
rbe ''higher law" only Is re ,ognized ther
by all who rise above petty politics to th
dignity Of statesmen.
The old funding law OF 1879, the McCul
loch law, and the Riddleberger bill ar
alike inadequate and puerile. They wer
schemes Of plunder or makeshifts to It'd
stranded politicians and parties over tn
bar. They have no future but in the limb
Of cost Of party clothes. Meanwhile tn
people, stripped and deceived by thei
trusted representatives, deserve sympath
and belp.
One simple line Of policy commends itsel
to me. IL Is to stop paying until rea
settlement Is made. That requires actio
outside the state. A third party shoul
award the equities In the case. Tue nor
stTous rulings Of the courts are like th
bred Scott decision-judicial legislation
dangerous usurpatlon, tit only to protet
tyrants. Judge Bond and the rest get the
law from the obsolete precedents before th
PnglIsh revolution. These courts were th
creatures OF the king, and construed law
sanction crimes against the liberties OF IL
people,
Such courts give no promise OF help to u
A board OF able Dublicists or single ma
of admitted ability from outside the sta,
seems to furnish better tribunal to reac
on equitable settlement What amour
shall be paid This quetion answered, or
simple, straightforward course remains
Ask Congress to loan money at per cen
to the state to pay this amount. The n
tion now loans money at per cent. to Il
national banks. This precedent Ia ia
justification for state and even private loan
IL has settled policy. Now let us app
it. 1t is just as easy TO bring Congress
loan the money as TO donate the land.
Is better In principle, aud the relief
debtor and creditor Is Immediate. Than
for the helpful words and the non partlsl
spirit Of your paper. EDWARD DASIELs
GUSsToS, VA, Aug. 3.